Free agency preview: Should be quiet in the early going

The red carpet the Dallas Cowboys used so often last year to welcome free agents likely will remain in storage this month, gathering dust alongside Rob Ryan’s old defensive playbooks, Wade Phillips’ oversized parkas and the neck rolls favored by players in the 1970s.

Jerry Jones signed seven free agents in 2012, an expensive haul that included starters in cornerback Brandon Carr, guards Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate Livings and fullback Lawrence Vickers. But when free agency opens today, salary-cap shackled Dallas is expected to be on the sideline while other teams duke it out for big names in the early going.

“We’ve had years when we’ve played free agency and some years when we don’t sign anybody because of our cap situation,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said in an interview for the club’s web site. “Obviously, we went at it hard last year. If you have a salary cap, you can’t do that every year.”

The Cowboys’ biggest move in free agency likely came last week when they slapped the franchise tag on defensive end Anthony Spencer for the second straight year, a decision that put them about $7 million over the salary cap even after the restructuring of deals for Carr, tight end Jason Witten, defensive end DeMarcus Ware, wide receiver Miles Austin and center Ryan Cook.

To barely get back under the cap before today’s deadline, the Cowboys on Monday released linebacker Dan Connor and renegotiated the contracts of Bernadeau, defensive lineman Jay Ratliff and cornerback Orlando Scandrick.

Conner was one of the free agents Dallas signed in 2012, but he was expendable after getting beat out by Bruce Carter for a starting job and then underachieving in 14 games.

The Cowboys can clear more room by signing Spencer and quarterback Tony Romo to long-term contract extensions that would lower their cap figures. As it stands now, Romo is scheduled to count $16.8 million against the cap for next season, while Spencer is guaranteed a salary of $10.6 million in 2013.

With needs along the offensive line, the interior of the defensive line, at safety and at backup running back, Dallas could target some mid-level free agents after the smoke clears from the frenzied early signing period.

Among the mid-tier types that could be on Dallas’ radar include Chicago Bear defensive tackle Israel Idonije, who had 20.5 sacks over the last three years while playing for defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, now the Cowboys defensive line coach.

Dallas has 15 unrestricted and restricted free agents, most of which it will make no effort to keep. Among the notable players that likely won’t be back are running back Felix Jones, cornerback Mike Jenkins and wide receiver Kevin Ogletree.